Jul 14, 2018 - Santorini

When the boat arrived in Santorini harbour, I was overwhelmed by the reception of both humans and animals! The donkeys descended thick and fast down some of the steepest terrain I have ever seen, rushing to meet the ferry and haul the load of tourists up the steep steps to the town perched on the rocks above. Santorini is a submerged volcano that erupted eons ago, leaving a caldera behind. Its steep rock faces are covered with whitewashed villas clinging to the rock face like vines on a brick wall. There is a tradition in Santorini of...

Jun 29, 2018 - Delphi

Rain and fog joined us for most of the drive to Delphi but it was a great run on good roads. Coffee stops in some really quaint villages along the way were excellent diversions. Our hotel was in the centre of town just 500m from the archeological site and was a tad run down but comfy. A bonus was that dress shops were in the same street. Gilli was ecstatic ! The ancient site was good but others we had visited were better although the museum did have many excellent items on display that were in incredible condition. The museum also provided...

Jun 17, 2018 - Athens

Athens Airport was the main target for the day but on the way we investigated the Korinthia Canal which was brilliant. Being able to 'walk the plank' over it was a great way to appreciate its size. In ancient times ropes and logs were used to haul boats the 8 klms from one water's edge to the other before the canal was built. The time had arrived to drop our special friends at their airport hotel to prepare for their flight home. The nine days sharing the travels through part of Greece went all too quickly but it had been fun exploring the...

Jun 16, 2018 - Korinthia

Mountain scenery dominated the drive to Korinthia and Gilli did most of it so we were in good hands. She handled the 4WD so well that we all laid back and appreciated the beautiful landscapes. Hopefully she'll do more. Ancient Korinthia was right on our doorstep so our hotel location could not have been better. A twilight dinner overlooking the old ruins was a bonus although cats were a distraction. The modern town was quite large with a very pretty waterfront so a coffee stop was appropriate. Now with a good caffeine hit it was decided to...

Jun 14, 2018 - Olympia

The day's drive took us through Arta and Patras before finally arriving in the really pretty town of Olympia. With only 8,ooo residents it certainly had a 'family' feel and everyone seemed friendly. None more so than the operators of one of our favourite eateries, Zeus. The Aussie-Greek family made us extremely welcome. The enormous archeological site of the original Olympic games was our focus and it was brilliant. It was a great feeling to walk through areas where ancient athletes and spectators gathered including the original running...

Jun 13, 2018 - Ioannina

Our next stopover at Ioannina was chosen to celebrate 'Birthday Boy' John's new milestone and a recommended Greek 'garden' restaurant was the planned location. Rain dampened that plan so our hotel's spacious dining area was the backup. Sadly it's extensive menu ran out of steam with almost all chosen dishes unavailable. Basics got us through with a reasonable supply of wine. With a change in weather we re-celebrated the next evening in the 'garden' as originally planned and all was well. After a full recovery we visited the very interesting...

Jun 12, 2018 - Naxos

Naxos is a bigger island than Paros and much larger than Antiparos. I found a lovely little room in a four-plex which even has a communal fridge and a tiny balcony overlooking a rather overgrown garden. Every morning I would wander into the village to buy fresh bread and watermelon for my breakfast -- heaven! I've explored the island on foot, following the rutted roads and pathways that criss-cross the island. Olive groves with lounging goats and sheep are everywhere and the air has a rich, dusty smell to it. I am so totally relaxed after...

Jun 11, 2018 - Meteora

Once again the drive was easy and the border crossing a little slow but at least we had reached Greece where our target was the monastery town of Meteora after a short stop in the very pretty lakeside village of Kastoria. The big highlight of the trip was a bear sighting made by eagle-eyed Gilli. Unlike earlier 'mythical whale sightings' she got this one spot-on and we were all glued on the grassy fields for more. Signs advised we were in bear country but we saw no more. We're still not certain if the one we did see was 3 or 5 or maybe 10...

May 17, 2018 - Thessaloniki

The four hour drive to Thessaloniki flew by mainly because we took a brilliant highway with a small toll section and were almost alone for the entire distance. The roads both in Macedonia and Greece were generally excellent and our border crossing was effortless. Hectic traffic in Thessaloniki made up for the quiet drive but our hotel choice proved to be a reasonable sanctuary. Like most cities, Thessaloniki was a little untidy but did have some really great areas. Once again the waterfront was the pick along with some wide, pedestrian...

May 9, 2018 - Paros

Boats to the Aegean Islands leave from the nearby community of Piraeus. I was told the trip to Paros would be a "few hours"......which turned into a gut-wrenching 8 as we stopped at various and sundry islands on the way. The seas were quite rough and I made the mistake of having some very rich coffee and yogurt for breakfast which didn't stay in my stomach for long. I spent most of the trip on deck! My first glympse of Paros was magical. A typical Greek island village, whitewashed with flashes of brilliant turqoise and teal, met my gaze....

Apr 8, 2018 - Athens at last!

After a grueling bus and train ride from Budapest, crossing many borders and varying geography, I have arrived in Athens. I found a lovely room in a small hotel overlooking a square in the Plaka , the old town centre of Athens. It has a beautiful curving wooden balcony that extends out in the square where old men sit on benches surveying the bustling life going on around them. The Plaka fairly pulsates with activity, between the bars and restaurants, the shops and markets, no one stands still for long. Yet, for all its life, Athens is so...

Feb 7, 2018 - Greek field notes

Greece is still suffering the effects of its national debt crisis. Unemployment is 20+%. Many shops are empty. Athens has its share of beggars and people sleeping on sidewalks. Graffiti is epidemic, and most of it is merely ugly. There are plenty of well dressed people. BMWs and Mercedes are everywhere. Income inequality is in plain sight. We feel safe. We practice street smarts at all times, just to make sure. Greek T.V. has lots of music videos, along with near nightly analysis of Survivor Greece. We look for news or programs in English...